Grain tank and elevator clamp



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GRAIN TANK AND ELEVATOR CLAMP Filed Nov. 4, i957 o i 54 30 I2 a 40 M LL52 35 J 30 v E l 50 o 2 2 16' I I I8 46 I 32 v 2a LeRoy 6. Z/mmerINVENTOR.

g 'tional in form.

United States Patent-D,"

GRAIN TANK AND ELEVATOR CLAMP Le Roy G. Zimmer, Rte. 1, Two Rivers, Wis.

Filed Nov. 4, 1957, Ser. No. 694,181

2 Claims. (Cl. 248-616) The present invention relates to certain new anduseful improvements in cradling, embracing and clamping means for -agrain tank and elevator combination which is expressly, but notnecessarily, designed and adapted to function on and in conjunction withcombines of a type marketed by International Harvester Company, forexample, those combines which are identified in the trade as Nos. 76,127 and 141, respectively.

An object of the invention is to structurally, functlonal-ly andotherwise improve upon similarly constructed and performing cradling andclamping adaptations and, in doing so, to provide a construction whichis practical and easy for transport, requires no special toolsforinstallation, does not involve the need to remove nuts and bolts,promotes a saving of time and labor, and is otherwise suitably adaptedto serve the purposes for which it has been appropriated for use.

In carrying out the principlesof the invention two cradling and clampingdevices are preferably used for uniformity of'support and moresatisfactory results. These devices are mounted on frame members andeach device is the same in construction. Briefly, each device ischaracterized by a rigid arcuately bowed bar, a strap adjustablyconnected at one end portion to an adjacent end portion of said bar,means at the other end of said strap for hingedly anchoring said otherend portion on a grain tank, a coil spring having one end fastened to anintermediate portion of said bar, a latch-lever having means at one endfor hingedly attaching said one end of said grain tank, a stationarykeeper for the free end portion of said lever, and means operativelyconnecting the other end of said coil spring to an intermediate portionof said latch lever.

Novelty is also predicated on the above arrangement wherein the meanslast-named comprises a U-shaped staple fixed on the latch lever. Thisserves to accommodate a retaining pin and the coil spring terminates ina hook which is releasably connectable with the pin, making it possibleto quickly and readily detach the coil spring and to swing the clampingdevice to an open outof-the-way position.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparentfrom the following description and the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the views:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view showing a fragmentary .portion of thegrain tank and the associated auger or elevator and illustrating theimproved cradling and.

clamping means. 7

'Fig. 2 is a view which may be said to be taken on the plane of the line2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing oneof the clamping devices closed in full lines and also open in dottedlines. In the drawings and as seen in Fig. 2 the grain tank is denotedgenerally by the numeral 4 and the anger or elevator is denoted at 6,these parts being conven- The improvement referred to as the cradlingand clamping meansis characterized at the left in Fig. 1 by a firstvertical frame member 8 and at the right by a similar spaced framemember 10. The right hand vertical edge of the frame member 10 isprovided with a pair of upper and lower outstanding arms 12 and each armis provided at its outer end with a lateral keeper-hook 14. In practicethis serves to accommodate the handle portion 16 at the free swingableend of a latch lever 18. The latch lever is hingedly mounted at 20between the spaced eyes 22 of a twin eye bolt passing through the framemember and secured at its threaded end by a nut 24 on the interior ofthe tank. On its intermediate portion the lever is provided with aU-shaped staple 26 which serves to accommodate an insertable andremovable retainer pin 28 similar to a cotter key. This pin in turnpermits a hook 30 on an end of the coil spring 32 to be connectedthereto. The opposite end of the spring is fastened in any suitablemanner, as by a nut and bolt 33, to .an intermediate portion of alongitudinally bowed cradling bar 34. The opposite slotted end portion36 of this bar serves to permit the enacting looped end portion 38 of asuspension strap 40 to be adjustably connected thereto. The strapportions are secured together at 42 and the loop 44 at the opposite endis connected to the link portion 46 of a clevis 48. The clevis, that isthe stem thereof, has an eye 50 hingedly mounted at, 52 between the ears54 on the shank 56 which is secured in place at 58.

As before stated by securing the frame members 8 and 10 in the mannerseen in Fig. 1 and providing the expedients described, two cradling andclamp ng devices of identical construction may be used.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the conventional grain tank and elevatorconstruction includes a generally triangular shaped web or supportbracket 60 by which the elevator 6 is secured to the wall of the tank 4.

As suggested by the numeral 61 in Figure 1, a sheet of suitable materialmay be interposed between the straps 40 and the elevator 6.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as'follows:

1. A clamp for removably securing a grain elevator vertically on a graintank, said clamp including a pair of vertical bars on the tank onopposite sides of the elevator, bolts securing one of the bars to thetank, eyebolts securing the other of said bars to said tank, arms onsaid other bar, hooks on said arms, levers journalled on the eyebolts,straps having one end swivelly connected to the first named bolts andengageable circumferentially with the elevator for clamping same againstthe tank, and coiled springs connecting the other ends of said straps tothe lever for tightening said straps on the elevator, said levers beingengageable in the hooks for retention thereby in operative position.

2. A clamp for removably securing a grain elevator on a tank, said clampcomprising an 'arcuate bar engaged circumferentially with the elevatorand having a pair.

ly mounted on the tank on the other side of the elevator, and a coiledspring operatively connecting said lever to the bar for tightening saidbar on the elevator and,

-' 579,475 Dotson Mar. 23 1897 4 Cousin- Aug. 19, 1913 Beerstecher Sept.8, 1925 Green June 14, 1927 Dross Mar. 21, 1939 H alvarson Oct. 8, 1957

